Fire-escape



(No Model.)

J. F. HILL.

PIRE ESCAPE. No. 462,866. Patented Nov. 10, 1891.

UNiTEn STATES PATENT OEEICE.

JAMES E. niLL, or FLEETwooD, PENNsYLvANTA.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION vforming part of Letters Patent No. 462,866, dated November 10, 1891.

Application led February 24, 1891. Serial No. 382,415. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES F. HILL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fleetwood, in the county of Berks, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Fire-Escapes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved mechanism adapted more especially for supporting the rope orladder of a suspended fire-escape.

The objects are to provide a bracket or support which may, first, be secured in such a manner as to insure absolute safety; second, which may be swung out of a window, ready for immediate use, or swung in and dropped out of the way; third7 which will be adjustable to suit different windows. The means by which l accomplish these objects are fully described in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the invention involved is specifically pointed out in the claims.

Figure 'l is a sectional elevation of a portion of the wall of a building, showing my improved bracket swung outward, ready for use. Fig. 2 is a corresponding inside view showing the bracket swung into the room and dropped to its normal position between the floor and the window-sill. Fig. 3 gives another view of the shoe attached to the supportingleg.

A represents a window-frame, (t the outside window-sill, and K the floor.

H is a casing containing pulleys and friction devices to be used in connection with a rope L-such a construction, for instance, as is described in my patent, No. 432,0i5, issued July l5, 1890. This is fastened to one end of an iron bar b, the opposite end of which is adj ustably secured to an extension-bar B, a series of holes b2 being provided in each to permit the lengthening or shortening of the arm or bracket formed by them jointly. The inner end of this arm B is pivoted at Z13 to an eye on the top end of a vertical rod E, which is guided by a small bracket f, secured to the inner edge of the window-sill and adj ustably secured by nuts c to a bracket F, fastened securely to the loor-joists. rllhe leg C is secured intermediately to the arm B by means of bolts passing through one of the holes c', the

arm being braced by a bar D, also adjustably secured to the arm at a point near its outer end and to the lower portion of the leg C. The end of the latter is provided witha shoe G, pivoted thereto by means ot a lug g. so as to permit it to swing downward, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, yet providing a broad surface to support the strain brought upon it when in operative position upon the window-sill, as shown in Fig. l.

In applying my bracket as above described it is only necessary to change the relative lengths of the arm B, leg C, and brace D to adapt it to varying shapes of windows and sills and to secure any desired angle for the arm B. Then properly arranged and placed in the position indicated in Fig. 1, the principal strains developed by a weight suspended from the rope 7L are a tensile strain on the rod E, which is conveyed through the nut e and bracket F to the floor, and a compression conveyed from the leg C, through the shoe G, to the sill c. lVhen not in use, the position of the apparatus is as shown in Fig. 2. To change from one position to the other it is only necessary to lift the arm B on its pivotal connection b3 until sufliciently high to allow it to pass readily through the window-opening, which is effected by a swinging movement, the vertical rod E turning in the bearings F f. It is then lowered to either of the positions shown, the shoe G dropping to the vertical position, as in Fig. 3, to avoid its projecting into the room, but taking the horizontal position, as in Fig. l, when in service.

lt is evidentl that the construction may be made to fixed proportions, instead of being made adjustable, as described, and that it may be otherwise modied. I do not, therefore, limit myself:` to the exact construction herein set forth; but

lVhat l claim is- 1. In a fire-escape apparatus, the bracket or arm B, provided with the intermediate supporting-leg C and having its inner end pivotally secured substantially as described, whereby it is adapted to be swung in both a vertical and horizontal plane, substantially as set forth.

2. Ina tire-escape apparatus, the bracket or ICO arm B, having its inner end pivotally supported, as described, and provided with an intermediate supporting-leg O, having a pivoted foot G, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a tire-escape apparatus, the extensible bracket or arm B, having its inner end supported, as at b3, and provided with an adjustable leg C and adjustable leg-brace D, sub- Io stantially as set forth.

4. In a fire-escape apparatus,'the bracket or 

